Upper Limb Radiographic Anatomy

Radiographic Anatomy of the Upper Limb

• Studies the general, systemic, and skeletal anatomy of the upper limb.
• Focuses on the elbow, shoulder, scapulae, and clavicle.
• The goal is to explain upper limb anatomy and structures.
• To explain radiographic anatomy, and anatomy appearance relative to the patient's position.

Elbow Joint Anatomy

• Radiographic anatomy focuses on structures visible in imaging.
• The anterior elbow includes the humerus, radius, and ulna.
• The humerus features the radial and coronoid fossae, lateral and medial epicondyles, capitulum, and trochlea.
• The radius includes the head, neck, and tuberosity.
• The ulna features the coronoid process and radial notch.
• AP elbow X-rays show the lateral and medial supracondylar ridges, olecranon fossa, medial and lateral epicondyles, capitulum, olecranon, trochlea, coronoid process of the ulna, proximal radioulnar joint, and head, neck, and tuberosity of the radius
• Lateral elbow X-rays show the supracondylar ridge, trochlea, olecranon, trochlear notch, coronoid process of the ulna, and head, neck, and tuberosity of the radius.
• Key features include the radial and coronoid fossa, ridge of capitulum and trochlea, olecranon fossa, epicondyle, olecranon process, and trochlear notch.

Humerus Anatomy

• Key features of the humerus include the greater tubercle, head, lesser tubercle, deltoid tuberosity, radial fossa, coronoid fossa, lateral and medial epicondyles, capitulum, and trochlea.
• AP humerus X-rays show the acromion process, head of humerus, greater and lesser tubercles, surgical neck, shaft, deltoid tuberosity, lateral and medial epicondyles, capitulum, radius, trochlea and ulna.
• Lateral humerus X-ray projections display the acromion process, head of humerus, greater and lesser tubercles, humeral shaft, medial and lateral epicondyles, radius, olecranon process, and ulna.

Shoulder Anatomy

• The glenohumeral joint connects the humerus to the scapula.
• Key features are the acromion, articular cartilage, humerus, glenoid, scapula, and coracoid process.
• AP shoulder X-rays, without rotation, show the clavicle, acromioclavicular joint, acromion, greater tubercle, head of humerus, lesser tubercle, surgical neck, coracoid process, glenoid fossa, shoulder joint, and lateral border of the scapula,.
• Shoulder girdle X-rays in internal rotation highlight the distal clavicle, acromioclavicular joint, acromion, humeral head, greater and lesser tuberosities, coracoid process, and glenoid.
• Shoulder girdle X-rays in external rotation highlight the acromioclavicular joint, distal clavicle, acromion, humeral head, greater and lesser tuberosities, coracoid process, and glenoid.
• Axillary, lateral shoulder X-rays depict the coracoid process, humeral head, glenoid, acromion, and greater and lesser tuberosities.
• Pediatric shoulder joints on X-ray show the acromion process, head of humerus, humerus, glenoid fossa, lateral border of the scapula, first rib, and clavicle.
• Trans-thoracic shoulder joint X-rays depict the unaffected clavicle, scapula, sternum, clavicle, acromion process, humeral head, proximal humerus, and scapula.

Scapula and Clavicle Anatomy

• Key features of the scapula, in anterior view, include the coracoid process, scapular notch, superior angle, acromion, glenoid cavity, lateral angle, neck, costal surface, and inferior angle.
• Key features of the scapula, in posterior view, include the crest of spine, acromion, supraspinous fossa, infraspinous fossa, and dorsal surface.
• The clavicle features the acromial extremity, acromioclavicular joint, acromion of the scapula, body, sternal extremity, sternoclavicular joint, manubrium of sternum, and jugular notch.
• Scapula lateral projections show the acromion, coracoid process, body of scapula, inferior angle, and humerus.
• Scapula AP projections show the acromion, coracoid process, glenoid fossa, spine, lateral border, infra-spinous portion, and inferior angle.
• AP clavicle X-rays show the sternoclavicular joint, clavicle, acromioclavicular joint, and acromion process.